If you are thinking of holding an event that would attract visitors from outside of Mid Canterbury to the district, make sure to apply now for Regional Event Funding, as you could be eligible for up to $10,000.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Education's (MBIE) new Regional Event Funding is designed to help the regions bring domestic tourists to their door as international borders remain closed.

ChristchurchNZ, Mid Canterbury's tourism promotion provider has secured more than $230,000 of the funding to distribute in the district over the next four years, and applications for the first year are closing after 1 April.

"We're putting the call out to anyone who has a great event idea and a plan to make it happen to put it forward for funding," Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown says.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for our community to put our district on the map and deliver events that will be a real drawcard for visitors. This is your chance to do something amazing for Mid Canterbury and help drive spending in our local economy."

To be eligible for funding, events need to have a duration of between two and four years and must demonstrate how they will attract out-of-region visitation.

Mid Canterbury is defined as the area bordered by the Rakaia River in the north and Rangitata River in the south.

The grant is available over four years with the first round to be awarded in May 2021 for events that will be taking place between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.

The total amount of funding available is $10,000 per event.

To apply for funding, visit ashburtondc.govt.nz/do-it-online/mid-canterbury-regional-event-fund.

Applications are welcome until Thursday 1 April, 2021.